Rack device



Nov. 6, 1923. 1,473,318

' A. RANSON RACK DEVICE Filed June 15. 1922 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 attozmqA Y.

Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

tour stare ADOLPI-I RANSON, OF SOUTH CHARLESTGN, WEST VIRGINIA.

RACK DEVICE. 7

Application filed June 15,

provementsin drying racks or supports, the

object of which is to provide a novel article of manufacture which may'readily be applied to various forms of supports so as to sustain such articles as towels, garments,

or the like, for drying or other purposes.

The invention is characterized by the provision of a body member, preferably a metallic strip stamped or otherwise provided with supporting loops or eyes receiving rack arms capable of being positioned to ollstand at right angles to the body member when in operative position, or folded or collapsed to lie closely disposed with respect to the supporting means to which the device is attached.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description pr0 ceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention as especially adapted for application to hot water boilers or similar cylindrical supports.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device, parts shown in section, and a'number of the rack arms being omitted.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 2.

Figured is a view showing an adaptation of the device forming a guard for a fire place.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 -5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention embodying a supplemental loop strip.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a further modification of the invention.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of another modification of the supporting strip 1922. Serial No. 568,365.

for the arms, somewhat. similar to that shown in Figures 6 and 7..

Corresponding and like parts are referred V to in the following description and indicated in all or the views of the drawings by. like reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a metal strip or body member which may be of any desired size, depending upon the particular use to which the invention is adapted, said strip being formed at points intermediate its length with spaced loops or eyes 2, constructed by stamping outwardly the material of which thestrip is made along a line substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the said body member. Preferably in that form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 the material of the strip is also stamped in linewith the loops 2 to form transverse grooves 3 intersecting the loops so as to snugly receive the rack arms 4, which latter are adapted to slide in the seats from operative to inoperative position.

The arms 4 are formed from metal bars preferably threaded at each end so as to receive removable knobs or heads5. It will be observed by reference to Figure 5 0i the drawings that these knobs coact with the edges of the body member, forming stops preventing accidental displacement of the arms from the loop but enabling said arms to be removed when it is desired by simply unscrewing the knobs or either one of them from the particular end found most convenient. Each of the arms is bent atright angles adjacentone endas indicated at 6 which bent portion will permit the arm to be positioned to offstand at right angles to the supporting strip 1 as shown clearly in Figures l and 3 of the drawings. The material of the loops 2 is cut out so as to form a notch seat? in which the horizontal portion of the arm will rest when in its operative supporting position, thereby tending to hold the arm or arms againstlateral movement,-or in other words, in parallel relation toea'ch other if the strip or body'- member 1 is applied to a flat surface.-' The ends of the strip 1 are offset as indicated at 8 so that the inner face of said offset ends will lie in a plane coinciding with the face. at the rear of the grooves or seats 3. This formation holds the strip iii-spaced relation to the support' 7 upon which the strip is applied and, therefore, permits the tree positioning of the arms, speaking with ref rence to the projection of the knobs 5 from the face of the supporting strip.

In that form of the invention shown in Figure 1, the strip 1 is bent around a cylindrical support such as a hot water boiler used in conjunction with heating ranges, strap members 9 being provided to completely encircle the support to which it is clamped by means of a suitable clamping bolt 10. i

It will he unnerstood, however, that this rack device may be attachet to any form of support in which event fastening members are passed through the apertures 11 in the ends of the strip 1.

t lucb a device as hereinbett'ore described is particularly well adapted for connection above and to the wall adjacent a fire plr. ,e, as shown in Figure el. Under this arrangement the arms 4; may be pulled into their horizontal position for supporting any article adjacent the lire to cry the same and while in the collapsed, or vertical position of the arms they wi l constitute spaced bars extending across the fire place opening for the purpose of acting as a guard against the possibility of children or pet animals getting into the fire place opening. The rigidity with which the arms are held by the connection with the strip is particularly usetul in the various adaptations or uses of this rack device.

In Figure 6 there is depicted a slight modification of my invention consisting in the provision of a separate metallic strip 2 formed at intervals with loops 2 which are designed to project through suitable openings 2 cut in the body member 1 at spaced intervals. These loops 2 will receive the rack arms in exactly the same manner as the corresponding element in that form. shown in Figures 1 to The loop strip 2 will, of course, be held in operative position against the rear face of the strip i by virtue of the interlocking connection of the arms in the manner set forth.

In Figure 9 I have illustrated a slight 12 iation in this construction shown in igures 6 and 7, wherein the strip 1 is stamped with a depression 1 to receive the loop strip 2. In this manner the rear face of the loop strip will lie flush with the rear face or" the supporting strip with which it coact-s.

In Figure 8 is shown a further modifica tion of my invention in which the supporting strip 12 provided with the loops or eyes 13 as in the preferred form above described is bent at points spaced from the ends of the strip backwardly and upwardly so as to meet in overlapping relation, formsupporti members ll having end openings in registration as at 15 to receive a fastening member for securing the device to a suitable support. The horizontal portion of the strip carries a series or" arms 16 which are adapted to be positioned as described with reference to the arms in. the other forms of the invention, while niagonal members 14 are provi somewhat differently shaped arms 1? in the nature of hook supports. bus, in the use of this form of the article, the arms 16 may be used for supporting towels or the like, while wash rags or other articles may be placed upon the terminal hooks ot the arms 17 which remain in their vertical position.

It will, be obvious that further adaptations or variations in the form of this article may be provided and I do not wish to be limited in this respect. The invention is capable of being cheaply mai'uitactured and finished in any desired manner by nickeling or similarly platin Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A rack device of the class described comprising a supporting strip having a loop projecting from the face thereof substantially midway of the side edges and a groove at opposite sides of said loop, a rack bar slidably received in said loop and groove and provided with an angularly bent one. to engage across the face of the strips,

and a head atthe bent end of the bar to engage the lower edge of the strip when the bar is moved into horizontal position to prevent vertical displacement oi the bar from the loop.

2. A rack device of the class described comprising supporting strip having a loop projecting from the face thereof substantially midway of the side edges and formed with a seat in its upper face, a rack bar slidably received in said loop and provided with an angularly bent end to engage the face of the strip, and a head at the bent end of the bar to engage the lower edge of the strip when the bar is in horizontal posi tion and resting in said seat to effect a locking engagement.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

ADOLPH RANSON. 

